Zach Keenan

Do you surf?  Chances are, if you are reading these words right now, you are either a surfer or have some close friends who surf.  So what is it that is so special about surfing?  What feelings or emotions does it inspire within you? The answers to these questions are going to be unique to everyone, but I believe that at some level they’re all the same; surfing has helped us reawaken our connection with nature.
Driving around in our cars and working indoors with artificial lights has cut so many people off from the natural world.  Surfing allows us to tune into the elements and hear our instincts once again.  Surfing enlightens us to the natural rhythms and cycles of the world.  We become aware of the seasons, and notice the changing weather patterns.  We tune into the rise and fall of the tides caused by the gravitational pull of the moon.  We can anticipate intervals of swell energy arriving from storm-generated winds thousands of miles away. In recognition of the surfer’s unique dynamic with the natural world, it’s time for all surfers to realize that this world, our world, cannot be sustained unless we make a conscious effort to protect it.  
You may ask yourself, how do I, as one person, affect a positive change?  What can I contribute?  Everyday lifestyle choices have a much greater impact than you can imagine.  Just like the Iroquois people who considered the impacts of their decisions for seven generations into the future, the choices we make now have long-term consequences.  
Do you buy and eat organically grown food?  Organic farming methods involve a healthy, natural agricultural system that does not use any synthetic chemicals.  Conventional agriculture and its use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers is one of the major causes of polluted water in our country.  The influx of fertilizers and pesticides washed off of fields and carried in storm water runoff drains into our rivers and lagoons, disrupting the balanced ecosystems and causing eutrophication (an increase in algae productivity which decreases the available oxygen in these water bodies) thereby suffocating the lagoon.  The look and smell of these degraded rivers and lagoons is horrible, and as they drain into the ocean the end result is beach closures.  In San Diego County, we often see these beach closures from Tijuana Sloughs in Imperial Beach, San Diego Bay, San Diego River mouth in Ocean Beach, San Elijo Lagoon in Cardiff, up to Agua Hedonia Lagoon in Oceanside.  Closed beaches equal no surfing, and surfing in polluted water results in sinus infections and other scary illnesses.  
Supporting locally grown produce by shopping at your local Farmer’s Markets or joining local food co-ops can not only support organic farming methods, but can also support your local growers and minimize fuel consumption and any resulting pollution from transporting produce from other areas.  And wherever you shop for groceries, bring your own canvas bag to carry your food home in.  
Organic farming is important for the food you eat and also for the clothes you wear.  Eleven percent of all pesticides used in the world are applied to cotton fields, and it takes 17 teaspoons (about a handful) of toxic chemicals to produce one non-organic cotton t-shirt.  Supporting companies that have made a conscious effort to promote organic faming methods and utilize organically grown cotton in their clothes helps support the planet.  Companies such as Patagonia, Sector 9, and Planet Earth have all incorporated organic cotton into their clothing lines.  They are also integrating renewable resources: Planet Earth utilizes hemp, Sector 9 uses bamboo for some of their skate decks, and Patagonia uses recycled plastic bottles for their surf trunks.  
There are so many opportunities to create positive impacts if we only take the time to do our part.  Ride a bike, walk, or use public transportation whenever possible.  Eat organic food and buy organic clothing.  Support organizations like Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club not only with your membership dues, but also by volunteering time and contributing to efforts like beach clean-ups.  As a matter of fact, pick up trash every time you go to the beach, leaving it a cleaner place than you found it.  Attend City Council meetings; see who makes decisions that affect you and your neighborhood.  Pay attention. As Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
Being environmentally conscious is not a new trend. It actually demands that we return to our roots.  Caring about the big picture and things outside your little world demonstrates positive values and shows respect for the people around you and for future generations.  The phrase “Think Globally, Act Locally” should inspire everyone who has any connection to the ocean to make daily efforts to maximize the sustainability of our natural resources.  Open your mind to the awareness surfing has taught you, tune into your instincts, and hear nature asking you to do your part.